Big flash drive fails in USB port

[prouton]

I've had a problem with one brand/model of thumbdrive/flashdrive/whatever you want to call it when plugged into USB ports on laptops (laptops running on A/C power).

The thumbdrive in question is a Sandisk MiniCruzer 512mb (two different units tested). It fails (isn't seen by WinXP) when plugged into the built in USB 1.1 ports of an HP Presario 906US, or into a generic USB 2.0 PCCARD adapter on a Toshiba. The thumbdrive works fine when plugged into a desktop computer's USB port (either 1.1 or 2.0) and when plugged into a powered USB 2.0 hub off the Toshiba/PCCARD port.

In either of the problem scenarios, a Lexar 128mb thumbdrive works fine, and a Lexar 512mb thumbdrive works some of the time (depends on whether or not something else is plugged into the second USB port).

Which leads me to wonder if I'm seeing a power problem. Do 512mb thumbdrives require that much more juice, or are the USB ports on a laptop marginal power providers?

I resolved a problem with an external CDR/W drive on the Toshiba setup by attaching it through the powered hub, which adds weight to my belief that available power is a problem.

So...anyone else seen/resolved this type of problem?

[Steve R Jones]

Windows XP Does Not Recognize a USB Storage Device After You Resume from Standby
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp


MORE INFORMATION
This problem has been confirmed to occur with the following USB storage devices:

IOMega USB Zip 100 Drive
IOMega USB Zip 250 Drive
ScanLogic USB Flash Drive


This problem has been confirmed to occur with the following computer models:

Toshiba ATR10-4

[prouton]

Thanks, I'd seen that but that's not the problem. It's strictly with initial and subsequent plug ins -- stand-by is never entered.

[J A L]

If any of those computers have a via chipset be sure to update your chipset drivers to the hyperion drivers. Be aware that some older systems work better on earlier versions of the hyperion drivers. you can view www.viaarena.com to see the explanation of the differences.

Thumb drives use a incredibly low amount of amperage. Power should never be a problem with those if the thumb drive is the only device connected and is in good working order.

As for a cd rom working on a power hub...... Cd roms need external power ( IE they need usually wall power or inverter power to a transformer that will provide enough amperage.

I wonder if you installed the USB 2.0 patch for Windows XP?? It is included in sp1 for xp.

Here is a link to XP updates and fixes

[prouton]

If any of those computers have a via chipset...

Neither machine is reachable at the moment, but I'll check the Presario tomorrow. HP's website is worthless for determining which chipset is used.

Thumb drives use a incredibly low amount of amperage.

That's what I would have thought, but I'm still grappling for some explanation. The drives work flawlessly in a desktop system or from a powered hub.

Cd roms need external power...

Yes, the CDR/W has its own A/C adapter, which is why I never suspected a power problem until the thumbdrive problem entered the picture. I would have expected the CDR/W drive to require zero power from the USB interface.

...installed the USB 2.0 patch...

Both laptops are running WinXP with sp1 applied. The only real difference is that one is XP Home and the other is XP Pro (which I realize shouldn't make any difference in this case). Oh wait a minute, this patch is for systems running sp1. Well, I can certainly try that, although the description on the MS Knowledgebase doesn't address the symptoms I've seen. It did, however, start me chasing down links where I discovered that WinXP actually has error messages (which means it detects the condition) regarding too much power being requested by the devices on the USB controller. I've not gotten such messages during testing, so now I'm really unsure what to think.

The one other thing I can add is that when I plug the Sandisk MiniCruzer into the Presario laptop, not only does the thumbdrive not get recognized, but anything else plugged into the second USB port stops working until the machine is rebooted. Unplugging the thumbdrive does not restore the USB ports to working order, only rebooting does.

[104456]

In general the thumb drives use around 100mA each of the 500mA available at your USB ports so power should not be a problem.
Is this drive a USB 1.1 or 2 device?
I would suggest it is a chip-set or driver compatibility problem especially the generic USB 2.0 PC CARD and would suggest you look for updated drivers for the device.

[prouton]

The thumbdrives (problematic and non-problematic) are all USB 2.0 high speed certified.

The drivers for the USB 2.0 PCCARD are in fact the latest offered by the company. I was a little surprised to even find the company's website, but it was out there and nothing newer was available. I'd research the card some more at this point, but I can't remember the name/model of it, and my client (the owner of the card) is out of town for the next couple of weeks. All I can guess about it at this point is that it isn't the NEC chipset, as the eBay description didn't mention it (which many of them now do).

The Presario laptop concerns me more, as the built in USB ports would probably need drivers from HP, and there are none offered. Oh well, later today I'll run down the specifics of those ports.

But you just put a thought into my head (I thought I heard something rattling ). I've got a D-Link USB 2.0 PCCARD (model DUB-C2) adapter I might as well give a try in the Presario. Ah well, life would just be boring if it weren't for computer problems.